Rougarou Magic

“Marsh's debut [. . .] will appeal to a wide range of readers, sharing the important message that your best self is your true self—and your roots will ground you wherever you’re planted. Readers will gravitate toward this quirky story of family and friendship.” —Booklist

“I couldn’t put it down.” —Kathi Appelt, New York Times bestseller, Newbery Honor author, and National Book Award finalist

“A fabulous and thrilling fall read for tweens! Highly recommend!” —Ali Terese, author of Free Period, National Book Award longlist

“By the time this story is through, every reader will want their own yellow-eyed, horned-eared, ferociously loyal rougarou.” —Elaine Dimopoulos, author of the Milkweed Meadow series

“An enchanting and heartwarming tale of friendship, family, and identity—with a sprinkle of Cajun magic [. . .] This book was a delight!” —Anna Staniszewski, author of The Wonder of Wildflowers

“This story is a love letter to Cajun life [. . .] heart-filing and sure to be relatable.” —Christine Hartman Derr, Paw Prints in the Sink blog

After discovering that the creatures from Cajun folklore actually exist, Feliciana is torn between hiding her heritage and starting fresh at her new school—all while caring for an unexpected magical friend.

Twelve-year-old Feliciana Fruge does not like Boston. If given the chance, she would gladly move herself and her mom from the freezing city right back to Grandma’s house in Louisiana. Feliciana dreams of escaping her stepdad’s corny jokes and bland food and the relentless bullying at school.

So, when she transfers to a new school and has the chance to start fresh, Feliciana plans to be as un-Cajun as possible in order to blend in. But then Grandma sends Feliciana a mischievous and magical monster from Cajun folklore—Roux the rougarou. While Grandma might have meant for rambunctious Roux to keep Feliciana company, now Feliciana must juggle making new friends, outsmarting a bully, creating her best art to qualify for an upcoming competition—and hiding her mysterious, magical canine companion from everyone.

Rougarou Magic is a magic-laced, tenderly drawn love letter to Cajun folklore, the bittersweetness of starting over when you least expect it, and the unlikely friends you make along the way. Rachel M. Marsh’s debut novel explores themes of friendship, family, self-identity, and change and will captivate animal lovers.

Kirkus Reviews:

Starting over in Massachusetts is a challenge for Louisiana transplant Feliciana Fruge.

Feliciana, a Cajun girl from the bayous of Terrebonne Parish, is struggling to adjust to her new life. When her mom and stepdad, Bob, got married, the family left the South for Bob’s hometown of Boston. Feliciana doesn’t like anything about the place. It’s cold, the food is bland, and ever since she moved here last year, she’s been bullied and made to feel self-conscious for being and sounding different. Starting sixth grade at a new school, Feliciana hopes to keep her Southern origins to herself. There’s only one problem: On her first day at Revere Academy, a wolflike creature from Cajun legend shows up, watching her with glowing yellow eyes. It turns out that Grandma knows a thing or two about this rougarou. Juggling excitable Roux with a city-wide art competition makes Feliciana more homesick than ever. But she discovers there’s more to the rougarou—and Boston—than she ever expected. Marsh tackles bullying, alienation, and displacement through the powerful lenses of myth and legend. Feliciana’s journey to accept her new home and herself creates a compelling, moving character arc that acknowledges how hard it is to be uprooted from one’s home while also learning to find joy in a new place.

A magically charming debut.

Booklist:

Feliciana Fruge (pronounced like blue jay, teachers!) is trying to re-brand herself. Transplanted unwillingly from Louisiana to Boston when her mom married bland Bob, who can’t cook (doesn’t he know what a spice is?) or tell jokes. She experienced bullying her first year up North and transferred to a private school, where she’s determined to keep her Cajun-ness from showing. Horribly unhappy, she discovers that her Grandma has sent her Roux the Rougarou (who acts like a huge goofy dog rather than the mythical Cajun creature he is) to cheer her up and remind her of her true self. Marsh's debut cleverly weaves folklore with the realism of middle-school drama, along with a sprinkle of humor and magic, to create a quick read that fills a void in most library collections. It will appeal to a wide range of readers, sharing the important message that your best self is your true self—and your roots will ground you wherever you’re planted. Readers will gravitate toward this quirky story of family and friendship. A solid purchase.